Mortice Locks

Solid wooden doors offer an acceptable level of security when fitted with a high security lock. These locks are known as Mortice Locks. There are many types and sizes but fall into 2 categories; Sash locks and Dead locks.

Dead locks have a single bolt which operates with a key. Sash locks have an additional latch which operates with the turn of the door handle.

2 and 3 lever locks are suitable for internal doors, these are not British standard locks.

5 lever mortice lock can be used in External doors. British standard mortice locks will be stamped with the British standard kitemark and a type mark, for example; BS3621. Sash euro and Dead euro locks are available which utilise a euro cylinder in conjunction with levers within the mortice lock.

Like Euro cylinders, British standard mortice locks have several features built-in designed to delay an unlawful entry.

BRITISH STANDARD MORTICE LOCK FEATURES

Curtain: A metal shroud in the keyway that prevents access to the levers. Under attack, excessive force can cause the curtain to fail making retraction of the bolt more difficult. If the curtain has failed, it is likely that the lock will require a destructive entry in order to open the door. Normal operation of the lock using the key will not cause the curtain to fail.
Reinforced bolt: the bolt is either laminated or contains hardened steel rollers. These provide greater resistance to physical attack eg:- an angle grinder.
Hardened steel plate: A Reinforced plate protects the lever/ bolt mechanism.
5 levers: Metal levers require to be set to the correct gate in order for the bolt to retract. Whilst these levers can be picked in order to move the bolt, this is a highly skilled technique. These levers are often anti-pick, a security feature which can lock the bolt in a ‘false gate’. Invariably, entering a ‘false gate’ renders the bolt unmovable which requires the lock to be reset before the picking procedure is repeated.

Contact Laceby Locks for advice and a free, no obligation quotation: